Abolfazl Minaee

This study undertakes a profound exploration of the mystical teachings of Nahj al-Balagha, attributed to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, and their transformative influence on the existential philosophy of Mulla Sadra, the architect of hikmat al-muta’aliya (transcendent philosophy). Through an exhaustive comparative textual analysis, it examines core mystical concepts in Nahj al-Balagha—including tawhid (unity of existence), fana (annihilation of the self), suluk (spiritual journey), and tazkiya (ethical purification)—and their resonance with Mulla Sadra’s metaphysical doctrines, such as harakat al-jawhariyyah (substantial motion), tashkik al-wujud (gradation of existence), nafs al-kamilah (perfect self), and his epistemology of mystical intuition (kashf). Drawing on 34 authoritative sources, encompassing classical Islamic texts, Persian and Arabic scholarly works, and contemporary interpretations by luminaries like Allama Tabataba’i, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and William Chittick, this study elucidates points of convergence, divergence, and influence. The analysis reveals that Nahj al-Balagha’s mystical insights provided a spiritual and intellectual foundation for Mulla Sadra’s synthesis of rational philosophy, theological doctrine, and mystical intuition, profoundly enriching Islamic metaphysics. This dialogue not only bridges spiritual and philosophical discourses but also offers enduring insights into existential questions of being, selfhood, divine unity, and ethical practice, with significant implications for contemporary philosophical, theological, and interfaith discourse.

Abstract This paper explores the philosophical concept of death from the perspectives of Mulla Sadra, a prominent philosopher of Islamic thought, and Søren Kierkegaard, a foundational figure in existential philosophy. Both thinkers offer distinct, yet profound insights into the meaning of death, which are deeply connected to their broader metaphysical, theological, and existential frameworks. Mulla Sadra’s view of death as a transformative transition towards divine perfection contrasts sharply with Kierkegaard’s existential perspective, wherein death represents a confrontation with human finitude and the possibility of spiritual rebirth through faith. This comparative study delves into the relationship between death and nihilism in the modern world, offering critical reflections on how these two thinkers address modern existential concerns such as meaninglessness and despair. By examining the historical, philosophical, and theological implications of their views, this paper argues that both Sadra and Kierkegaard offer valuable contributions to contemporary efforts to transcend nihilism and find existential meaning in the face of death.

Picture a world where artificial intelligence transcends its role as a tool, reshaping the very essence of humanity—through mind uploads that flirt with digital immortality, neural implants that amplify our thoughts, or autonomous systems that wield life-altering decisions in hospitals, courtrooms, and global councils. This paper embarks on a profound journey to navigate this transformative landscape, comparing two ethical frameworks: Afro-communal personhood-based relational ethics, which sees personhood as a vibrant tapestry woven from communal bonds and mutual responsibilities, and Kantian deontological ethics, which roots morality in the unyielding principle of rational autonomy. Through ten meticulously crafted case studies—digital personhood, machine autonomy, privacy, moral responsibility, AI in healthcare, global governance, education, judicial systems, environmental management, and cultural preservation—we explore how these frameworks confront the ethical dilemmas of transhumanist AI. Our mission is to forge an innovative, integrated ethical framework that synthesizes their strengths, offering policymakers a robust blueprint for AI governance that champions individual dignity, nurtures communal harmony, and ensures global equity. By introducing pioneering tools like adaptive ethical algorithms, global AI ethics councils, and community-driven ethical dashboards, this framework seeks to guide AI toward a future where technology uplifts humanity across cultural and technological divides. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations to tackle cultural nuances, technological complexities, and regulatory disparities, illuminating a path for an AI-driven world that is both just and interconnected.

This study employs Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy of language from Philosophical Investigations (1953) to critique computational theories of consciousness, asserting that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot attain genuine awareness due to its disconnection from human linguistic, experiential, and cultural practices. Wittgenstein’s concepts of language games, the private language argument, rule-following, and forms of life reveal the misuse of “consciousness” in computationalism, as proposed by Turing (1950) and Dennett (1995), highlighting its phenomenological and cultural irreducibility. The study adopts an interdisciplinary methodology, integrating conceptual analysis, technical evaluation of transformer-based AI models, and a mixed-method case study spanning textual analysis, decision-making, emotional recognition, healthcare diagnostics, crisis management, mental health support, and cross-cultural interactions. It synthesizes neuroscientific findings (Dehaene, 2024), psychological insights (Kahneman, 2011), and philosophical perspectives from Western traditions (Plato, Heidegger) and non-Western frameworks, including African ubuntu (Ramose, 1999), Mulla Sadra’s presential knowledge (Rizvi, 2009), and Zen Buddhist phenomenology (Anālayo, 2020). Key innovations include a globalized critique, novel empirical data from AI performance analysis, and a proposal for a global AI ethics board to ensure culturally sensitive design. The study examines qualia (Jackson, 1982), intentionality (Brentano, 1874), phenomenology (Merleau-Ponty, 1945), and historical theories of consciousness, systematically addressing objections from Churchland (1981), Dennett, Chalmers (1996), Nagel (1974), Goff (2017), and others. Tailored for Philosophy & Technology, this work advances the mind-machine debate by prioritizing lived experience and advocating for ethical AI development grounded in human-centric principles.

This study undertakes a profound exploration of the conceptual convergences among Mulla Sadra’s doctrine of al-ḥarakat al-jawhariyya (substantial motion), Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy, and contemporary quantum ontology, aiming to forge a novel metaphysical synthesis that bridges Islamic philosophy with modern philosophy of science. Through an intricate comparative and conceptual analysis, it argues that Sadra’s dynamic ontology of becoming offers a robust framework for interpreting Whitehead’s processual metaphysics while simultaneously providing a unique lens to address interpretive challenges in quantum mechanics, such as wave function collapse, quantum entanglement, and superposition. By meticulously identifying shared ontological commitments to flux, relationality, and emergence, this paper proposes substantial motion as a unifying metaphysical paradigm that transcends cultural and disciplinary boundaries. This interdisciplinary endeavor not only fosters a cross-cultural dialogue but also contributes to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the nature of being in a quantum world, inviting philosophers to reconsider the foundations of reality through a processual lens.

This article undertakes an exhaustive investigation into the role of the Active Intellect (al-‘aql al-fa‘‘al) in the cognitive framework of Avicenna (Ibn Sina, 980–1037 CE), a pivotal figure in Islamic philosophy. The central research question is whether human thought and understanding can function independently of the Active Intellect or if this metaphysical entity is an indispensable prerequisite for actualizing cognition. Through a meticulous and comprehensive textual analysis of Avicenna’s primary works—Kitab al-Shifa (The Healing), Al-Najat (The Deliverance), Al-Isharat wa al-Tanbihat (Remarks and Admonitions), and Kitab al-Nafs (The Book of the Soul)—this study elucidates the epistemological and metaphysical dimensions of Avicenna’s philosophy. The analysis is enriched by extensive comparative evaluations with other Islamic philosophers, including Al-Farabi, Suhrawardi, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, and Mulla Sadra, and integrates insights from contemporary Persian and Arabic scholars such as Allameh Tabataba’i, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, and Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi. The findings affirm that the Active Intellect is essential for actualizing human cognition, particularly for speculative knowledge of universal truths, challenging modern notions of intellectual autonomy and situating human thought within a transcendent metaphysical order. This dependence raises profound questions about the nature of knowledge, the autonomy of the human intellect, and the interplay between divine and human realms in Islamic philosophy. The article concludes by proposing detailed avenues for future research, including cross-cultural comparisons with medieval Jewish and Christian philosophies, parallels with contemporary cognitive science, and theological explorations within Islamic traditions.

Mulla Sadra, the 17th-century Persian philosopher and founder of Transcendent Theosophy, presents a transformative epistemological framework that redefines knowledge as an existential and intuitive act, rooted in the primacy of existence. His concept of presential knowledge, or ‘ilm huduri, posits that true cognition occurs through the direct unification of the knower’s being with the reality of the known, mediated by spiritual faculties such as the heart and the active intellect. This article offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of Sadra’s existential-intuitive epistemology with Martin Heidegger’s existential awareness, centered on Dasein and lived experience, and Robert Audi’s theory of rational intuition, which emphasizes non-inferential apprehension of abstract truths. Drawing on primary sources, including Sadra’s Al-Hikmah al-Muta‘aliyah fi’l-Asfar al-‘Aqliyyah al-Arba‘ah, and interpretations from Islamic scholars like Allama Tabatabai, Morteza Motahhari, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, and Mesbah Yazdi, alongside Western philosophical texts, the study explores convergences and divergences across Islamic mysticism, existential phenomenology, and analytic epistemology. Key questions include: How does Sadra’s epistemology redefine knowledge? How does it compare with Heidegger’s and Audi’s frameworks? What are its implications for contemporary philosophy? The analysis underscores Sadra’s unique contribution to global epistemology, offering a holistic model that transcends rationalist and empiricist paradigms, fostering a cross-cultural dialogue that enriches our understanding of human cognition.

This article offers an exhaustive exploration of the Necessary Existent (wājib al-wujūd) in Avicenna’s metaphysical system, as articulated in Kitāb al-Shifā, Al-Ishārāt wa-l-Tanbīhāt, Al-Najāt, and Danishnama-i ‘Alā’ī, and evaluates its profound implications for contemporary modal metaphysics. Avicenna’s distinction between essence (māhiyya) and existence (wujūd), coupled with his innovative proof of the Necessary Existent, establishes a modal ontology where necessity, possibility, and impossibility structure the hierarchy of being. Through a philosophical-analytical methodology, the study compares Avicenna’s modal concepts with Saul Kripke’s possible-world semantics, Alvin Plantinga’s modal ontological arguments, and David Lewis’s modal realism, identifying convergences, divergences, and potential syntheses. Drawing on authoritative Persian, Arabic, and English sources, including Allameh Tabataba’i, Mohammad Heshmatpour, Abdollah Javadi Amoli, Gholamhossein Ebrahimi Dinani, Gholamreza Aavani, Taha Abdul Rahman, and Mohammad Ubaid al-Jabiri, it proposes a comprehensive integrative framework that bridges Islamic and Western philosophical traditions. The article addresses challenges in reconciling Avicenna’s emanationist cosmology with modern modal frameworks and explores applications in philosophy of religion and science, underscoring Avicenna’s enduring relevance to debates on modality, ontology, and causality.